Fly-tying bobbin



H. L. THOMPSON 2,738,140

FLY-TYING BOBBIN Filed March 12, 1953 March 13, 1956 INVENTOR. HzeaezrL. 7710mm; 0N

United States Patent-1O invention -=relates toimprovements -in-'-:.flytying I bobbins.

' ln tyin g flies, 'the feathe'rs and other materials which are 'fastened=to-a fish hook-tomake it *resemblean'insect or some-' fanciful objectthat is thought to 'attract fish;are bonnd' t'o the'hook shank by a thread. Thisthradfknown asithe tying thread, is first bound to the hookshank, men the part-remaining is used asneeded"torlashr' the succeeding-members of the parts comprising theflyintoplace.

Traditionally; thisthread was cut from its original spool, waxed andmanipulated'entirely by hand, and remained attachedto theily until its completion; after which the thread remainingwas cut fromthe flyand discarded;

Today, fiy=tying bobbins-are rapidly cominginto use.

consist generallyof a small tube large enoug'h fto allowthe tying thread to pass through its-'*bore;the tube having rigidly attached thereto meanstor-"suppo rting"a spool of thread to -rotate and feed thread. into *the' bore when tpulle'dfrdmthe opposite end-of'the'tubeir Some means i are generally provided to apply slight friction 'to resist the pull on-thei thread and' prevent=the spool "from rotating fias'ter than the pull on .the' thread forces it to tun-m Some bobbins are-made to take-the eri'ginal'spool ofrwthread as bought, others take' a special spool upon whichsthread is wound'after being -waxed: LTliose talting the-original: spool must allow 'for a few- =inches of thread beingmpulleduforward and waxed and then-rewound on thelspooliiornse.

:It must bewknown: that inthe-useof a bobbin; its ad vannagemcannotbe fully obtained unless the -t-ying-thread issuingnfromtherpoint of the tube' is short. Th&t is,the shorter'the distancefromthe point of the'tube' to the fly, the:shorter.andwmore confined will betheimotions to distribute thei thread :about the :fly; resulting in greater iaccuracy zandaspeed. for the. tier. Howeveigasitheibobbin' mustrbe placedzin :a rest somewhat removed fi'om the fly to tpermit :therwinding of body material, :hacklep or to Wo vide; room cfor "wing'setting, it is impossible to maintain theeshorttlengthof tying. thread between the' fiy andthe' bobbins 3811116 retreat of the bobbin .involves -gthe necessity forapulling out more thread.. Naturally, the' thread 'pulled out emustj be :returned to the .spool before. work with =the= bobbih oansbe effectively resumed.

Thbcprincipal object of the presentinvention is to provi e amimprovedconstruction ofta bobbin :of :the originalp clt p -A'fi I.' l1GI1:0bjC.Ct. of my :invention :is .to PIOVIdG-BII -"HII- p flyedtbobbin :so constructed that .it may be xretained in the :hand; by a large headed tensionscrew; so thataas =the ScmWr-protrudesbetween and partly embraces thesindex' andthird, fingers,-no effort of thethumhis.necessaryno retainit in .Workingposition, and the .thumbcan-bemsed: elfieicntly to retract the thread byrotating :the spool hackwardwith the. thumb of the one hand .alone.

.Aiba'd feature of many bobbins is that. when held near:

vertical without tension on the thread, the'free lthr'eadis likely to drop back through the tube and form afre'e loop 2,738,140 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 2 necessary to removeand replace the spool to get, the spool feeding properly again. To .overcomethisdifiiiilty, I place apair .of springsteellip members on theintakeend of the .tube' to very lightlypressupon ,the.thread-.to.maintam-slight tension between the end of the'ptube and. the spool. This insures that. the" thread will lalways be posi t'ioned'to windon or unwind fromthe spool.

Though the thread may be placed .andtensionedfor 'rewinding'onthe' spooLxit is obvious that in most casesit rtake'stwohandsito performv this operation, Qn'e tqsupport 'the"bobbin';while the. other .rotates the spool. to. rewind "the-thread; In'the'present bobbin; this operation is readily performed-with onehandyas-it 'is unnecessary to support the bobbin withthe other hand. Afirm gripon the bobbin 'is attained by holding" the" large headed tension adjust- 'ment screw between the" indeicand thiitd finger of the hand: It is not necessary to embrace .the bobbin with the fingers; though, .ofcourse, that is "the'most convenient way to" hold: it in regular user When'retrieving thread', t he bobbin; being lirmh held between the .two fingers, is 'in perfect position to be-brushedby the" thumb on the spool to rotate it "and wind-up thethreath. As the thumb rotates the spool by frictionit automatically urges it away from the-brakewhi'ch is 'restrainingitsaotation by the .torsion applied by'the tensionispiing tuponthe :axlei Thus, when the thumb is applie'dgto turnhthe spool, the tension restraining-its rotation-is automaticallyremoved, though it is instantly reapplied =a'stthezthumb"leaves the spool.

Another advantage "'of my improved construction is the' fact that only one" sideofthe" spool is 'exposed for rotation by the thumb, thereby excluding the' possibility o'f'turning' it in'the'wrong-direction;

Afur'ther object of theinvention is to provide improved brake means'for "normallypreventing' rotation .of the spoolh" Another object"ofttheinvention is to'so arrange the -spoo'l arbor, frame"andassociatedparts that excessive motion of -the' arbor, such as when 'installiiig'qr.removing a spool, is prevented.

Other-objects*andadvantages will'be more apparent from'-the"follo'wing description wherein reference is had to the accompanying sheet .of .dra'wings, ;upon which Fig; l is a view looking'at theflpalm of .a' users 'hand, showing thebo'bbin bein'ghel'd'inposition-between the indeXand'the' thirdfinger by .means of the'tension adjust"- ing screw;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bobbin;

"Fig.3 is a 'sideelevationalview thereof;

Fig'. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bdbbin-with the spool of threadtremoved fro'm the arbor;

.Fig': 5 is'an enlargediragmentary'view of the end of the tube"showing the spring steel lip members attached to the same to "maintain 'a slight tension on the thread;

Fig;- '6 is a 'front :viewof'the spring Iips and tube; and

Fig; 7 is a fragmentary.sideflelevational view .of the same;

In 'the em-bodiment of the' 'invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe the same, thelbo'bbin generally comprisesa frame 10whic'li. is formed with a top wall 12,a downwardly be'ntfback wall;14, and a tapered for ward end'16whichis bent aroun'd'the thread tube 18 and soldered to the same to fixedlyhold .thetubelfl'in position. A'pairof side walls 2'0 and 2'2 are bent downwardly and-ii1wardly as 'showmflea'vmg a space adjacent 'the'ba'ck of 'theframe sufiicientlylarge "to insert a spool of thread. A .spoo'l supporting arbor- 24' is "providedforla spool of'thread S, the arbor comprisingfone' leg of a spring.

wire zfiwhich has another parallel" leg 28l forming'. an. axleforthdsame. The'leg's .are connected together by a V-shaped 'e'nd portion 30." Thelaxle.lsismountedin The axle is held against removal by a wire 36 which passes through a hole in the axle 28 and extends to the forward end of the frame where it is formed with an elongated loop 38.

The loop 38 embraces the shank 40 of a tension adjustment screw that is screw-threadedly mounted in a boss 42 on the top wall 12 of the frame, the screw being provided with a comparatively large head 44 formed with the conically shaped side wall 46. Thus, by adjusting the tension screw, greater or less tension is placed upon the axle and arbor 24. In the position shown in the drawing, the arbor is under sufficient tension to yieldingly hold the spool against the back wall 14 of the frame. A pair of inwardly turned ears 48 and 50 help to position the spool and prevent accidental displacement or removal of the same.

The thread tube 18, which is fastened in the forward end of the frame 10, may have a portion 18a extending forward from the frame and a portion 18b extending backwardly from the front end of the frame, as shown.

As previously mentioned, a free thread can easily drop back through the tube when the bobbin is held in a vertical position. To prevent the thread from dropping out ,of the tube, I have provided a pair of spring steel lip members 52 and 54 which are soldered or otherwise aflixed to the inlet end 56 of the tube 18. The lips 52 and 54 may be flattened and shaped to an arc as shown, with the edge 58 of the lips being turned outwardly. With this construction, when a thread has been pulled through the tube, the spring steel lip members press lightly upon the thread with sufficient force to maintain a slight tension on the thread between the end of the tube and the spool.

In common with all bobbins, a threader is usually necessary to start the thread from the spool through the tube. This is made necessary by the fact that the thread from the spool is always waxed and the wax always leaves a coating of wax on the inside of the tube, making it practically impossible to place an unsupported thread through the tube.

The threader is generally composed of a very thin piece of spring wire doubled to form a small loop at one end so that the thread may be passed through the loop and then pulled through the tube. With the present construction the thin lips provided to bear on the thread are tempered and sufliciently flexible to admit the threader and then to close to slight friction contact upon its removal.

In using my improved bobbin, to load the same, hold the bobbin needle or tube with the open side of the frame up and the needle pointing away, place the hole in the spool of thread over the protruding end of the arbor with the thread leaving the spool on the lower side toward the needle. Press the spool and arbor toward theneedle until the spool will pass over the flange 50 of the back wall of the frame and can be thrust clear on to the arbor. Do not force the spool forward further than just enough to clear the flange, as this will put an unwarranted strain on the tension spring 36.

To thread the bobbin, pass the thread through the open eye of a threader and pass the threader through the flared lips 52 at the back end of the tube or needle, and draw the thread through.

' To hold the bobbin during use, as can be seen in Fig. 1, it is advisable to clasp the enlarged head 44 of the tension screw between the index and third finger. The thumb and other fingers will naturally fall into their proper positions. The other fingers will be located to easily control the extra tensions needed bybraking on the end of the spool, and the thumb is free to contact on the frame. As the tool can now be held securely by two fingers alone, the thumb is always free to retract the thread rapidly by rotating the spool withou the use of the persons other hand. The normal tension should be set by the tension screw tojust support theweight of the bobbin. If this is correctly done, dropping the bobbin will simply unwind the thread instead of breaking it.

When the thread is pulled forward to wax or for other reasons, it'can be retracted by winding it back on the spool until it is the proper length for use, by rotating the spool in contact with the other arm or hand or by rolling it along a flat surface. When this is done the spool is urged away from its normal contact with the brake so that it will easily rotate. The brake, of course, is the arcuate wall 14 of the frame which extends downwardly and frictionally engages the spool.

When the thread is in use on a fly, the thumb of the hand holding the bobbin can be used to rotate the spool and bring the bobbin nearer to the work. As can be seen in Fig. l, the position of the bobbin in the band, due to the fact that it is held between the two fingers, permits complete independent use of the thumb for any of the manipulation above described.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fiy-tying bobbin having a flat sheet metal frame with downwardly depending partial side walls and an arcuately shaped back wall spaced from said side walls, the forward end of said frame being tapered inwardly to form a tubular portion, a hollow metal needle fastened in said tubular portion and projecting forward and back from the same, a member comprising a combined spool supporting arbor and axle carried at the back of said frame, said member being a spring wire formed with a pair of parallel legs connected at one side by a V-bend, said arbor portion being disposed parallel with the back wall of said frame and spaced therefrom sufficiently to permit a spool of thread to be placed on the same, inwardly turned flanges on both sides of said back wall to position a spool therebetween, a tension spring for holding said spool resiliently against said back wall, said tension spring having one end connected to the axle portion of said member, a tension adjusting screw mounted in said frame near the front end of the same and projecting upwardly therefrom, the other end of said spring connected to said screw, said screw having an enlarged head by means of which the bobbin may be held in the palm of the hand and supported for use between two fingers so that the spool may be rotated by the thumb of the user.

2. A fly-tying bobbin having a flat sheet metal frame with downwardly depending partial side walls and an arcuately shaped back wall spaced from said side walls, the forward end of said frame being tapered inwardly to form a tubular portion, a hollow metal needle fastened in said tubular portion and projecting forward and back from the same, the inlet end of said needle having a pair of thin flat spring lips normally closing the same, a member comprising a combined spool supporting arbor and axle carried at the back of said frame, said member being a spring wire formed with a pair of parallel legs connected at one side by a V-bend, said arbor portion being disposed parallel with the back wall of said frame and spaced therefrom sufficiently to permit a spool of thread to be placed on the same, inwardly turned flanges on both sides of said back wall to position a spool therebetween, a tension spring for holding said spool resiliently against said back wall, said tension spring having one end connected to the axle portion of said member, a tension adjusting screw mounted in said frame near the front end of the same and projecting upwardly therefrom, the other end of said spring connected to said screw, said screw having an enlarged head by means of which the bobbin may be held in the palm of the hand and supported for use between two fingers so that the spool may be rotated by the thumb of the user.

3. Afly-tying bobbin having a flat sheet metal frame with downwardly depending partial side walls and an arcuately shaped back wall spaced from said side walls,

the forward end of said frame being tapered inwardly to form a tubular portion, a hollow metal needle fastened in said tubular portion and projecting forward and back from the same, a member comprising a combined spool supporting arbor and axle carried at the back of said frame, said member being a spring wire formed with a pair of parallel legs connected at one side by a V-bend, said arbor portion being disposed parallel with the back wall of said frame and spaced therefrom sufiiciently to permit a spool of thread to be placed on the same, inwardly turned flanges on both sides of said back wall to position a spool therebetween, a tension spring for holding said spool resiliently against said back wall, said tension spring connected to the axle portion of said member, a

tension adjusting screw mounted in said frame near the front end of the same and projecting upwardly therefrom, said tension adjusting screw having an enlarged head by means of which the bobbin may be held in the palm of the hand and supported for use between two fingers so said V-bend of the combined arbor and axle adapted to bear against the edge of a side wall of said frame to limit forward movement of said arbor.

4. A fly-tying' bobbin comprising a fiat elongated frame having an arcuately shaped back wall, downwardly depending side walls and a tapered front end, an elongated hollow tube extending forward from the front of said frame, a spool supporting arbor transversely disposed in said bobbin near the back wall of the frame, said arbor having an axle carried in said frame, said arbor and axle being a continuous piece of spring wireand connected at one side of said back wall by a V-shaped bend disposed adjacent one of said side walls, a tension spring for holding said spool resiliently against the back wall of said frame, said tension spring having one end fastened to said that the spool may be rotated by the thumb of the user,

, axle, a tension spring adjusting member screw-threadedly pending side walls and a tapered front-end, an elongated hollow tube extending forward from the front of said frame, a spool supporting arbor transversely disposed in said bobbin near the back wall of the frame, said arbor having an axle carried in said frame, said arbor and axle being a continuous piece of spring wire and connected at one side of said back wall by a V-shaped bend disposed adjacent one of said side walls, a tension spring for holding said spool resiliently against the back wall of said frame, said tension spring having one end fastened to said axle, a tension spring adjusting member screw-threadedly mounted in and projecting upwardly from the top of said frame, the other end of said spring connected to said member, said member having an enlarged head by means of which the bobbin may be supported for use between 'two fingers, the inlet end of said hollow tube having flattened spring lips normally closing the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,761 Stackpole July 23, 1872 444,208 Clark Jan. 6, 1891 2,220,878 Harvey Nov. 12, 1940 2,338,353 Perkins Ian. 4, 1944 2,343,190 Kinkel Feb. 29, 1944 2,474,463 Burrell June 28, 1949 2,578,045 Conrad et a1 Dec. 11, 1951 

